Whether it is an inexpensive baseball cap or a designer fedora, your favorite hat can become stained by the sweat from your head and hair over time.
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The good news is that you can remove sweat stains from your hat, and enjoy wearing it again, instead of throwing it out.
How to get sweat stains out of hats – what you will need
Here are the tools and materials which you will need to get rid of the sweat stains from any hat:
- A clean white, colorfast cleaning cloth
- A soft brush
- A bowl
- Water
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Mild laundry detergent
- Hydrogen peroxide
Test your cleaning solution first
Whatever cleaning solution you are planning on using to treat the sweat stains on your hat, make sure that you perform a spot test on a hidden area first.
Choose a hidden spot of the hat and drop or rub some of the chosen cleaning solution on it. Monitor it for any reactions on the textile or other material before starting to clean the hat.
If you notice that your hat’s dye is being transferred to the cleaning cloth, you should not wash it with water, and should use a dry cleaning solution instead.
Cleaning sweat stains off of baseball caps
Baseball caps are usually washable with water unless stated on the cleaning and care label of the manufacturer.
You should be able to successfully remove any stains from sweat from a baseball cap or visor with the help of some natural remedies that you probably already have in your pantry or in your cabinet.
Pour some baking soda into a cup or bowl and add enough warm water so that the mixture becomes like a paste.
Apply the paste to the stained area and rub it in gently. Then add a few drops of white vinegar on top of the stain.
Let it sit for a few minutes, and then use a soft-bristled brush or an old toothbrush to scrub the affected area until you notice that the stain is disappearing.
After that, rinse the treated area with some water, and proceed to wash the cap with mild laundry detergent and warm water.
Cleaning sweat stains on straw hats
Always check the cleaning and care label on your hat before performing any cleaning or stain removal. It should say whether or not you can use water for the cleaning.
In case you don’t see a label, the rule of thumb is that fine weave strong hats are more likely to be able to be washed with water as compared to looser weave ones.
If your straw hat can be washed with water, then use a clean and colorfast cloth damped in water mixed with several drops of mild dishwashing solution to dab and wipe the stains.
In case this doesn’t help, make a mixture of a cup of warm water with several tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, and use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the sweat stains. After you are done, rinse the area off with the help of a damp clean cloth. Let the straw hat dry naturally and away from any direct sunlight.
Cleaning sweat stains from felt hats
Felt is delicate, so make sure you perform a spot test before proceeding with the cleaning.
You can use a gentle stain remover for felt or sprinkle the sweat stains with some baking soda or cornstarch, which will hopefully absorb the stains.
After letting the hat sit, you can brush off the remaining solution, baking soda or cornstarch, with a soft brush.
Some felt hats could be cleaned with a damp cloth and a solution of water and white vinegar. Gently apply the solution to the sweat stains and then dab it in.
Let the hat dry entirely but keep it away from the direct sunlight.
Using a washing cage for getting sweat stains out of hats
There are washing cages suitable for cleaning all types of non-wool baseball caps.
Put the hat in the cage and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher. Run it with a regular cycle, and let the cap air dry. You can also run it on a gentle cycle in your washing machine.
